Lex Returns: Michael Rosenbaum To Come Back For 'Smallville' Series Finale

Deadline/TVLine EXCLUSIVE: Fans’ prayers have been answered – Clark Kent and Lex Luthor will meet again on Smallville. After months of speculation, Michael Rosenbaum just closed a deal to return to the CW series for the May 13 finale, reprising his role as Lex Luthor. Rosenbaum, who left Smallville in 2008 to focus on his writing career, had been courted for awhile to return for the closer. Talks heated up over the past week, leading to the deal which was signed tonight.

“It feels like the stars are aligning, literally. We couldn’t be more excited about having Michael back,” Smallville executive producers/showrunners Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson said. “And as far as the way he returns … there’ll be no doubt about how Lex becomes the great rival in Clark Kent’s life. He is the villain of the story.”

Rosenbaum said he was “delighted” to return for the series finale. “I’m simply doing it for all of the fans out there who made Smallville the great success it is,” he said. “I appreciate all of their passion, their relentlessness and even their threats. Ha ha. I can’t wait to hug the old crew back in Vancouver one last time and see all of my old friends once again….. Oh, and for Lex to become the badass he’s destined to be.”